WELCOME, LAZAR MARKOVIC

Becoming Brendan Rodgers’ fourth major transfer of the summer, following Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Emre Can as new players for next season – Liverpool have a new signing in the form of Lazar Markokvic.

I much prefer the term “new signing” to “Luis Suarez’s replacement”.

I don’t like when people expect new players to be an exact copy of old players who did well at the club and perhaps moved on before a new player had to be brought in. It’s okay to expect a new player to have success, but I don’t expect this player to try and be “the NEW Luis Suarez”. I only want him to start fresh and show us what he can do HIMSELF – not because he’s trying to be Luis Suarez but because he gets to play for Liverpool FC during the time we will be attempting more of the same success in European competition we’ve had previously, as we return in the Champions League and also success in domestic competition as we hope to show that we can do better than 2nd place this season – we want to be challenging to win the league!

This guy doesn’t need the pressure of you acting like he needs to be the player Luis Suarez was already, let Lazar be himself. Perhaps he will be as successful as Suarez was eventually. Suarez had at least 3 seasons at Liverpool and we can’t expect Markovic to instantly start breaking Suarez’s records by scoring three seasons worth of goals right away but after some time and when we have seen what he can do, you may just find that you didn’t in fact need a “replacement” – but just someone to do their own thing and bring back the good times to Liverpool in their own way. But I doubt it’ll happen if you keep calling him “the new Luis Suarez” or “Suarez’s replacement”. DON’T DO THAT TO HIM, please. Just let Markovic be himself and not anybody else. He deserves that much from the Liverpool fans.

Since this player was not previously playing in the English Premier League, you may not know much about him. So I’ll share his background with you, to let you get to know him better.

Lazar Markovic was born in “Čačak”, which was a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but now is officially a part of the “Republic of Serbia” on 2nd March 1994, making him just 20 years old. He spent his earliest years in his footballing career playing for Serbian clubs Borac Čačak and Partizan Belgrade. He has played for his country (Serbia) at Under 17s, Under 21s and the highest (adult) levels. He’s even scored twice for Serbia.

We’ve got a few “veterans” in our squad, but you won’t be talking about this guy’s retirement any time soon, I guarantee that. He could play for many more years and who’s to say that he won’t spend every year he has left in his career in the red jersey of Liverpool? If he’s successful enough, an extension to his time at Liverpool would be just what the fans would want.

Brendan Rodgers said about Markovic “Getting him at such a young age is also very pleasing for us, because we will be able to work with him to develop his talent within our group and improve him even further.”

The manager was enthusiastic about his new signing saying that “This is an exciting signing for us and one that improves our squad, in terms of attacking options, for the coming season.

He was hugely impressive for Benfica last season and has proved he has the ability to produce the goods in European competition as well, which will be important for us.

Lazar is flexible to play a number of positions, but I like the way he attacks games and is always positive and looking to make something happen. He will fit in with the way we play at Liverpool.”

As Liverpool’s manager mentioned, Markovic has spent some time in career already playing for a very large and successful club – Benfica. I think his time playing in the Portuguese league should have given him a little experience of what the English league’s fierce competition may be like for him. He’s no amateur, he has had experience of European competition in the Europa League and he has won La Primeira Liga (the Portuguese Premier League). If he can recreate that kind of success in England and the Champions League for Liverpool, I’ll be cheering him (just as much as I cheered Suarez) with the rest of the reds fans.

Lazar completed his medical and joined Liverpool for a fee of around 13 Million Euros, already having headed to our famous training ground Melwood, to see where he will spending so much of his time training with his new squad.

Markovic was interviewed about his new club and stated that “I am very happy that I have joined such a great club. I hope that I will fulfil the expectations of the supporters, coaches, players and all connected to the club. I have seen what the players are like, I have seen what the supporters are like, and I cannot wait to start playing here.”

Well said, Lazar. We’re excited to have you here and can’t wait to see what you can do. WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL. You’ll Never Walk Alone.

[written by] Stuart Drewery.

I’m an Englishman (born and raised in Liverpool in the 80s). My whole family including my parents and grandparents were Liverpool fans so I was born into being a red. I’ve seen Liverpool win the league (about 25 years ago) and I’ve been 100% loyal and committed while supporting the Reds through all the good times AND the bad times since the 80s.

I’m a die hard Liverpool fan (only supported ONE club in my whole life, Liverpool) and one of the most dedicated fans you’ll ever meet.